The Troubled Journey

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19879, 7 May 1936, Page 4

The Troubled Journey

By MARGARET GLENN.

SERIAL STORY

CHAPTER iii—(Continued). , 0m John Martin smiled at them benevolentiy. ‘ ‘ lie was not so old as his white hairi and his rattler weary eyes suggested. liis bent. ilgure, too, made him seemi older than he was. For years he had‘ suffered lumhago, and that, together with the tremendous amount or mental energy which he used daily, tended to make his sixty years seem more like seventy. lie spent most of his time, when he was not working at his laboratory. in his study. There had 2been the time when all of the children had gone there; when Mary had been alive it had been more like a nurser‘.‘ than a. study. But Janet had altered all that. She had negged Jimmy and Joan about worrying their father when he was resting until they had found it. easier not to visit him. But on those few occasions when Jimmy was home, the old clays Iseemed to ‘come back, ‘ Joan looked at her brother. He was tall for his age, a frank-eyed, clear—skinned specimen of English boyhood, who was secretly proud of his younger sister, although nothing would have made him tell her, or aiiyono‘ellse, that he thought she was the most ibeauti—tul girl he had ever seen. "And what's brought you 'here in the middle of term time? " Jean demanded, as she sat down. “Cricket," isaid Jimmy, with a grin. ”\\'6 were playing against Danehester College. The annual mateh,’y‘know “And you didn‘t tell me? " Juan demanded. “ I didn't know I‘d the playing," ‘protested Jim. “ It; wasn‘t until the last minute that. I was selected. Anyhow, the game ended soon than we ex—ported, and I begged permission to rnme in for half an hour." I For ten minutes all rthree of rthem tanked generally. The father entered timu lllt‘ tires of his children tar more ironihietely when they were together than when Jim was away. He seemed to get. closer to them; it was ah'nost as if they would turn round and see their mother enter the room. . Joan's eyes titled with tears as the foolish thought occurred to her. if either of the others noticed it they said nothing. Jim stood up, finally. "I must the going," he said . “It. was good of the games master to hit me come—l mustn't; stay too long.“ Joan went with her brother to the end of the street, where he hopped on a ’hus going towards the Market Square. Jim seemed to realise that some—thing had happened, but it was not until they actually saw the ‘hus coming that he made any comment. Then, in a. manner which was very old for a lad still at school, he said: “Everything‘s‘ all right, isn‘t it: Joan " ’ Joan forced herself to nod. “The same as usual," she Said. “I'm thinking of going Ito Felicity's for a few days." “ Give her my love," said Jim. “Now I must hop—bye-hye." "l‘he glow of satisfaction which the unexpected talk with Jim had given her lasted until she reached the house again. Then she was overwhelmed with a nervousness as to what would happen when she saw her step—mother. It was just possible, she realised. that: Janet would have spoken to her father. Nothing of the kind had happened. however. Janet Martin, who was on several welfare committees in the district—— her name could he found on every committee which earned her any publicity—had gone to a meeting that night. '. '

No telegram arrived. Joan went to bed, determined to be up early next mnrning. so as to make sure that she would he .the first to see the letters which would come by the early post.

There were several letters In lhc box when she opcm‘d it at half past seven‘ on the following morning. For a moment she was afraid that there was nothingr to her, but Fellclly‘s letter was tucked in between two larger en—velopes.

At the sight of her sister's small, neat writing, Joan's heart leaph “’ould it be all right for her to visit London?

She hoped against hope that. it would. It was her only chance to get away from Danchesler, for some time, without worrying her father. Janet could think as she liked. The first words made Joan smile: “ Joan clear, Yes, of course. Come as soon as you like and for as long as you like. Dick is working late a great deal, lately—at home, not at the office. Miss Suspicioual-unrl you‘ll be able to keep me company. No trouble, I hope? Give my love to Dad. and tell him that I'd like you to come for a week or two. Felicity." Joan looked thoughtfully ahead of her as she ‘wenlvupsialrs ‘to her room, after reading the lcilel‘. l-‘elieiiy obvi—ously guessed that lhelr slap-mother was at. the root of the trouble, and that the wire had not been sent off for nothing. The thing which puzzled Joan, at that. moment, was: what would she be able to do, after she had been with Felicity for a few weeks ‘.’ She couldn't ‘stay there for ever. Besides, it was ‘possible that. her sister would be going away from'Eng‘land for a year. Dick was an engineer, and he had been try—iner 'to get. a temporary commission m’erSeas for a long”r time.

1 Joan shrug‘god her shoulders. The future didn't matter :1 great deal. The joyous fact was ~ihat she would soon be away from Dun-Chester, and the (le—presSing influence u_l' hoi- step—mother ‘ “My own opinion of your conduct ‘3'Esierday afternoon,“ said Junci Muriin, “ is that you disgraced me, as well as yourself. I hope there \\‘ill never be any repetition of it, Joan.” Joan‘s lips set. They were at breakfast. Her father had not yet arrived at, the table. and the fight, was on between herself‘and Janet.

“I can‘t agree that; there was any disgrace at all," said Joan, very evenly. ” If anything, I think you made the mistake in acting the way in which you did." She was watching Janet as she spoke, and she saw the flush on the older woman's face. Janet. had not expected this defiance to continue oyer‘ night. She had been accustomed to getting lip—service from her step—daughter, and she was unable to understand this sudden change. But she kept her temper with an effort.

“ Kindly don't talk ilke that to me." she said, “and remember that your first duty, especially in front of other neo'ble, is to your mother." Joan's cheeks were flush'ed in ‘turn. “ I don‘t think there is any question of duty, in this case,“ she said. "And you. seem to forget that, you are not my mother. If you don‘t mind, I‘d rather not talk about it.“ But Janet Martin did mind.

She had never ceased resenting the fact that she had been unable to earn the devotion of her step—children; the first; few months of failure had soured’ her, and had made all chance of reconciliation impossible. But now, for the first time, Joan had actually put it into words. The older woman’s tem—per flared up. “If I don‘t mind! Why, you ungrateful little brat, I'Ve half a mind to teach you just what. obedience and res—pect means. I‘ve had more than enough of your insults and your insolence. Apologise immediately, or I‘ll—" Janet Martin broke OU. Joan stared at her for a moment, and then pushed bark her chair. Hand held high, she walked from the room. She met her father at the end of the passage. Old John, for once, saw that some.thing was wrong. He stopped and took this daughter‘s hand. “ Anything worrying you, my dear “ 1 Joan managed a smlle. After all, there was no sense in causing trouble between her father and Janet. She shook her head. "I‘m not feeling very grand," she

said. “In fact—" she went on quickly, as she realised that this was a golden opportunity for breaking the news—“l think a change for a week or two would do me the world of good, Dad." John Martin stood back a foot; 01‘ two, and surveyed his daughter quizzioally. There were times, Joan knew. when he seemed to forget this absent‘mindedness, \\‘ilt‘li it, seemed that he was fully aware of all the things which happened in the house. At those times he was very much like his first. wife; there was the softness of understand—ing in his eyes, and he did not tlSii questions, although he seemed to invite confident-est “I wouldn‘t be surprised if you‘re not right," he said. “Have you got anywhere in mind? “ “ I‘d thought, of going to see Felir—ity,“ said .loun. Her father nodded, and his eyes lit up. “That‘s a good idea, Joan. Go when you like." He squeezed her hand. and then went on to the breakfast room. (To be continued).